Grantown rugby girls set for Murrayfield

Grantown Grammar School girls’ under 15 rugby team are heading to the home of Scottish rugby after reaching the final of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Cup for clubs and schools on Friday.

They will play in the final at Murrayfield on March 25 after beating Argyll and Bute 26-0 points.

The girls are the first team in the school’s history to reach the final stage of the nationwide competition and are also the only team in the North of Scotland to have claimed a final spot in this age group.

Under 15s assistant coach Jo Blair said: "Everyone involved is extremely proud of the girls’ achievement, especially since they are only a small squad of 13 motivated girls out of a school of 400 pupils."

Their tough semi-final clash in the mud was against Argyll and Bute – a combined team from Oban and Mull – who had a squad of 20 girls from their coaches to select from.

Jo added: "The semi-final match proved to be a real test of the girls’ strength, endurance and resolve, partly due to the mucky condition of the pitch and also due to the doggedness of the opposition, who did not give anything away in the first half and the score at the interval was a 0-0 stalemate.

"However, whether a result of coach George Byer’s tactical team talk, or just their sheer will to win, the second half was a different story for the Grantown girls".

Despite the heavy boots and slippy ball they managed to put four tries over the line and three out of the four were converted by the reliable boot of Megan Murray.

Jo said: "Ecstatic is only one word you could use to describe the mud strewn players on the final whistle. Murrayfield now beckons and the girls in pink are even more excited now.

"The school is hoping to hire a bus, possibly two, to take supporters, family and friends down to support the girls in a few weeks time."